DBA ACTIVELY ADVANCES WATER MANAGEMENT EDUCATION
FOR PROFESSIONALS, STUDENTS, AND THE PUBLIC
STAFF
Dana Nunez Brown, FASLA, PLA, AICP, LEED AP
dbrown@danabrownassociates.com
During her decades of experience as a landscape architect and planner, Dana has worked for firms in New Orleans, Baton Rouge, Boston, and Orange County, California, including two of the largest design firms in the United States.
A native of New Orleans, Dana has worked tirelessly to address the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and Louisiana Department of Environment Quality requirements for water quality. She has written and revised chapters of the development code for several municipalities and parishes. She authored a manual to guide developers and design professionals in designing and implementing stormwater best management practices and organizes and leads dozens of stormwater workshops each year.
Dana holds a BLA degree from Louisiana State University and MLA degree from the Harvard Graduate School of Design and is a professional landscape architect, licensed in several states. She is a long-time active member of ASLA and is a Fellow of the organization.
Dana is a certified planner (AICP), and a LEED Accredited Professional (LEED AP).
As President of Dana Brown & Associates, she pioneered design of green infrastructure throughout Louisiana. Dana is a licensed trainer for the National Green Infrastructure Certification Program (NGICP) and a founding member of Water Wise Gulf South, which trains and educates residents in implementing green infrastructure in their neighborhoods.
Having taught classes on the subject at the LSU Robert Reich School of Landscape Architecture and the University of New Orleans (UNO), Dana regularly guest lectures at Tulane University, UNO, and Xavier University. She is the author of “Using Plants for Stormwater Management: A Green Infrastructure Guide for the Gulf South,” LSU Press, April 2014.
Christopher Africh, ASLA, PLA
cafrich@danabrownassociates.com
Chris Africh, Principal, holds a Bachelor of Landscape Architecture from Louisiana State University and is a Louisiana licensed landscape architect. As a native of South Louisiana, Chris has worked on a variety of projects involving community livability and enhancement, improvements of open drainage ways, greenway design, Complete Streets design, flood recovery and disaster planning, strategic redevelopment planning, and post disaster relief community site design. A talented artist, Chris also believes in the importance of readable, well-crafted work to better illustrate and help the public understand the design and the design intention. His modeling and graphic talent has helped prepare large scale public presentations, and his use of working digital models during the design process allows for real world spatial analysis and interaction.
Danielle Duhe, ASLA, PLA, APA
dduhe@danabrownassociates.com
Danielle Duhe, Principal and Marketing Coordinator, holds a Bachelor of Landscape Architecture from Louisiana State University. As a licensed landscape architect, Danielle has extensive experience in outreach and education, parks and recreational planning, and in the design and construction of stormwater management facilities. She is experienced in land use analysis and planning, code regulations and revisions, community revitalization, and public engagement strategies. Danielle has worked on a number of projects that have focused on pedestrian safety through design strategies, all while incorporating green infrastructure facilities. She has conducted road safety audits and written Complete Street policies for municipalities to adopt and implement. Danielle is a very active volunteer in the community, leading tours of green infrastructure, speaking at community events, and bringing her professional experience in design to her personal involvement in improving both New Orleans and the State of Louisiana. Danielle currently serves as Past-President for the Louisiana Chapter of ASLA.
Delaney McGuinness, ASLA, PLA
dmcguinness@danabrownassociates.com
Delaney McGuinness, Senior Associate, has a Bachelor of Landscape Architecture from Louisiana State University. While enrolled, she gained professional experience working for the LSU Coastal Sustainability Studio and in Southern California and the Netherlands. She is grateful for this global project experience, but is eager to work on pragmatic resilience projects in her hometown of New Orleans. Through DBA, Delaney is heavily involved in Water Wise Gulf South green infrastructure visioning and installations in Treme, the Seventh Ward, and the Upper Ninth Ward-Bunny Friend neighborhoods. She also serves as the Emerging Professionals representative for the Louisiana Chapter of ASLA, a 40 under 40 Cohort member of the Youth Empowerment Project, and as an active Race Committee member for Susan G. Komen New Orleans.
Ry’yan Clark, ASLA
rclark@danabrownassociates.com
Ry’yan Clark is a Senior Associate with DBA with five years of professional experience and holds a Master of Science in Plant Biology and Conservation from Northwestern University and a Bachelor of Landscape Architecture from Louisiana State University. Before joining DBA, he worked with leading environmental consulting firms in Lombard, Illinois. Ry’yan’s experiences so far have concentrated on green infrastructure, native planting, plant identification, institutional and municipal playgrounds, and green infrastructure design and implementation. He believes that it is our responsibility as stewards to give back to the places that made us who we are today. As a native to New Orleans, Ry’yan plans to continue volunteering in the City, just as he did in Chicago.
Chad Wilkins, ASLA, GIP
cwilkins@danabrownassociates.com
Chad Wilkins, Associate, recently joined the staff at DBA full-time after serving as an intern since 2020. Chad went back to school to obtain his Bachelor of Landscape Architecture in 2022 from Louisiana State University after selling his landscape construction company. He is a licensed Landscape Horticulturist and Green Infrastructure Practitioner. He has a passion for combining his interest in plants and green infrastructure to create beautiful landscapes. His diverse background as a full-service landscaping professional gives him a thorough knowledge of landscape construction and irrigation, providing a technical understanding of clients’ construction needs.
Gari Sampey
gsampey@danabrownassociates.com
Gari Sampey, Business Manager, holds a Bachelor of Accounting from University of Phoenix. Gari comes to DBA with over 30 years’ experience. She has an extensive analytical background in accounts receivable, reimbursement, budgeting, contracting, and computer system conversions. While working at Medical Center of Louisiana as the Patient Accounting Director she not only restructured the department, but also changed the department’s culture. Her leadership and work ethic were contributing factors to her Director of the Year award. Gari also worked with Tulane University Medical Group. While there, Gari provided a critical role in launching the first Tulane Medical Group Psychiatry Clinic that would wholly function under the direction of the University. Gari has also volunteered with several organizations throughout her career with a focus on healthcare such as the American Heart Association and Susan G. Komen. Gari decided to broaden her knowledge outside of healthcare and is excited to be using her vast accounting expertise for DBA in landscape architecture and planning consulting.